Abstract: Loquat creasing often occurs before and after ripening, and the fruit will lose water, shrink, hang on the tree or fall off, which seriously affects the yield, quality and economic benefit of loquat fruit. In this study, Cultivar Zaozhong No. 6 was used to study the occurrence laws of fruit creasing, and anatomically and physiologically methods were used to investigate the cause of loquat creasing. Treatments such as cincturing, wiring and sprays of plant growth regulators were tested for fruit quality improvement and fruit disorder control. The results were as follows: fruit creasing occured seriously in Zaozhong No. 6, creasing occurred prior to full maturation of the fruit and when the abscission zone of pedicle was formed. Its occurrence was closely associated with the outgrowth of spring shoot, i.e. vigorous growth of spring shoot increased creasing incidence. Flower thinning encouraged growth of spring shoot and thus increased creasing incidence. There was a significant negative correlation between the number leaves on the fruit-bearing shoots and the incidence of creasing. Cincturing or wiring could reduce creasing incidence. Foliar spray of KH₂PO₄ was effective in reducing creasing incidence.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica Lindl., creasing, spring shoot, prevention